IN OUR OPINION

Editorial: Fatherhood crisis

Published: Thursday, April 4, 2013 at 6:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, April 3, 2013 at 10:28 p.m.

More than half of all newborns in Marion County last year were born out of wedlock. It is an alarming number but hardly a statistical blip or a one-time phenomenon. No, for Marion County it is becoming the rule rather than the exception. Every year since 2007, according to the annual Kids Count survey on children's well-being in America, 50 percent or more of all new babies born in our community have been born to a single mother — and to a father who all too often is uninvolved, unsupportive and, frankly, unavailable.

It is the new normal, and it is a community crisis.

The Marion County Children's Alliance broached the subject of fatherless homes in our community Wednesday with its monthly luncheon program, “One Approach to a Successful Fatherhood Initiative.” Andy Mayer of the Tampa-based All Pro Dad talked about the importance of fathers being involved with their children, whether the father lives in the home or not. All Pro Dad, whose spokesman is former NFL coach Tony Dungy, offers guidance on establishing school- and community-based programs that encourage involvement of fathers.

“The idea is if we can get a dad to make any kind of positive change, only if it's one time a year, we'll take it,” Mayer told us.

With good reason. Mayer shared with the Alliance gathering the negative impacts not having a father around can have on children. Children from “fatherless homes,” he pointed out, account for:

63 percent of youth suicides

90 percent of homeless and runaway children

85 percent of children with behavior disorders

71 percent of high school dropouts

70 percent of youths in state-operated institutions

Absentee fathers are detrimental not only to their children but to their community as well, because it also bears the brunt — socially and financially — of this crisis.

Add to that list this number: 30 percent of all Marion County children live in poverty, compared with 25 percent statewide.

We heartily applaud the Children's Alliance for bringing this too-little-discussed issue out in the open. This community must begin addressing its fatherhood problem for its children and itself.

But it will take more than just the Children's Alliance. This is a massive, communitywide problem that has become, sadly, the new normal for Marion County.

To undertake a serious fatherhood initiative will take all of the dozens of children's services agencies in the Children's Alliance, our churches, our schools, our youth sports leagues, our civic clubs and our health community, for starters. In short, this is an undertaking that will require the whole community, and it will not be fixed in a year or two, but rather it will take a generation or more.

But we have to start the conversation. We as a community have to explain to our young mothers- and fathers-to-be the economic, social and safety risks of single parenthood — on them and their children. We have to explain how to avoid unwanted pregnancies. We have to explain — and exhibit — what fatherhood is and how rewarding it can be.

We have a crisis in our community, and we need to start talking about it. Now.

<p>More than half of all newborns in Marion County last year were born out of wedlock. It is an alarming number but hardly a statistical blip or a one-time phenomenon. No, for Marion County it is becoming the rule rather than the exception. Every year since 2007, according to the annual Kids Count survey on children's well-being in America, 50 percent or more of all new babies born in our community have been born to a single mother — and to a father who all too often is uninvolved, unsupportive and, frankly, unavailable.</p><p>It is the new normal, and it is a community crisis.</p><p>The Marion County Children's Alliance broached the subject of fatherless homes in our community Wednesday with its monthly luncheon program, “One Approach to a Successful Fatherhood Initiative.” Andy Mayer of the Tampa-based All Pro Dad talked about the importance of fathers being involved with their children, whether the father lives in the home or not. All Pro Dad, whose spokesman is former NFL coach Tony Dungy, offers guidance on establishing school- and community-based programs that encourage involvement of fathers.</p><p>“The idea is if we can get a dad to make any kind of positive change, only if it's one time a year, we'll take it,” Mayer told us.</p><p>With good reason. Mayer shared with the Alliance gathering the negative impacts not having a father around can have on children. Children from “fatherless homes,” he pointed out, account for:</p><p><l>63 percent of youth suicides</p><p><l>90 percent of homeless and runaway children</p><p><l>85 percent of children with behavior disorders</p><p><l>71 percent of high school dropouts</p><p><l>70 percent of youths in state-operated institutions</p><p>Absentee fathers are detrimental not only to their children but to their community as well, because it also bears the brunt — socially and financially — of this crisis.</p><p>Add to that list this number: 30 percent of all Marion County children live in poverty, compared with 25 percent statewide.</p><p>We heartily applaud the Children's Alliance for bringing this too-little-discussed issue out in the open. This community must begin addressing its fatherhood problem for its children and itself.</p><p>“I hope it's the start of a conversation,” Alliance Steering Committee Chairman Scott Hackmyer told us. So do we.</p><p>But it will take more than just the Children's Alliance. This is a massive, communitywide problem that has become, sadly, the new normal for Marion County.</p><p>To undertake a serious fatherhood initiative will take all of the dozens of children's services agencies in the Children's Alliance, our churches, our schools, our youth sports leagues, our civic clubs and our health community, for starters. In short, this is an undertaking that will require the whole community, and it will not be fixed in a year or two, but rather it will take a generation or more.</p><p>But we have to start the conversation. We as a community have to explain to our young mothers- and fathers-to-be the economic, social and safety risks of single parenthood — on them and their children. We have to explain how to avoid unwanted pregnancies. We have to explain — and exhibit — what fatherhood is and how rewarding it can be.</p><p>We have a crisis in our community, and we need to start talking about it. Now.</p>